Mrs. Lillian Louise Harriet Ann Ford was born in Hurricane Creek, Gurley, Alabama to the late Pearlie and George Ford on 15 August 1918.
She was the daughter of sharecroppers, cotton pickers, a licensed mid wife, homemaker, the granddaughter of slaves, and the child of a family barely surviving. Only through her mother’s unrelenting economy and her father’s back breaking labor in the fields could they scrape by. Keep in mind, in 1918, gas was eight cents a gallon and bread was ten cents a loaf. No money or time was left over for anything else, except for praying, going to church and playing with her seven sisters.
Her parents raised her and her siblings exhibiting the attributes of what is written in 1 Corinthians 13:13, three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love.
Her mother and oldest sister Martha Jane taught Mother Ford all the family recipes for cooking mouthwatering meals and how to keep a house.
She confessed hope in Christ at an early age and joined Hurricane Chapel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Revered O.D. Boone. She served faithfully on the Usher Board, Missionary Society and is currently active on the Mother Board. Mrs. Ford is the oldest member of the church where she still attends. Mother Ford is also an active member of the Silver Jewel Eastern Stars #508.
Mrs. Ford was married for 67 years to Mr. Otha Ford (better known as Pennie) until his passing in 2014. She and Otha did not have children; however, they embraced all of their nieces and nephews as their own children. Consistently providing them with words of wisdom and counsel on growing up to be thriving and responsible adults.
Mrs. Ford was employed by Mrs. Minnie Dillard the owner of White Swan Laundry in 1957 as a maid, cook, accountant, social secretary, gardner and housekeeping for 27 years. She was the “HELP” way before Olivia Spencer and Viola Davis played the part in the 2011 movie. She retired after working for Mrs. Dillard which left her with skills equivalent to the White House Social Secretary, an Accountant and Executive Chef.
Determined to help her community, Mrs. Ford lives by the Luke 12:48 scripture “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required”, and demonstrates this thru unselfish donations to several charities such as Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Wounded Veterans, Salvation Army, the Goodwill and others because she remembers the days when these organizations provided support to her and her family.
Mrs. Ford has been blessed to live thru Jim Crow; two world wars; the birth of the Civil Rights Movement; sit ins at the Woolworth’s counters; separate drinking fountains and been required to use the colored only bathrooms.
Mrs. Ford is loved by her family, church and community.